Straight lift rod hanger



Sept. 7, 1937. A. N. PORTER 2,092,131

STRAIGHT LIFT ROD HANGER Filed July 17, 1956 gig 50 65 5 25 Q: 'TcZ'IIIIIIIIIIIII I lllllll VIII/II/I/If/l/l/ INVENTOR /q/berf N Forfeit ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRAIGHT LIFT ROD HANGER Application July 17, 1936, Serial No. 91,088

8 Claims.

This invention relates to well pumping apparatus and particularly to a beam hanger for Well pumping rigs whereby a straight lift is ap plied to the rods, the principal objects of the invention being to provide a device of this character which is of simple and inexpensive construction and readily applicable to a conventional pumping rig.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a pumping apparatus equipped with a straight lift beam hanger embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pumping apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the walking beam on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, particularly illustrating the control rod guide yokes.

Fig. 4 is a section through the hanger on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates a pumping apparatus including a walking beam 2 pivotally mounted on the upper end of a Samson post 3 by means of the usual saddle 4 and side irons 5 to rock about a fixed axis 6 as in conventional pumping rig construction. The forward end I of the walking beam projects over the center of the well, indicated by the tubing 8 to connect with a polish rod 9 by means of a beam hanger l0.

The beam hanger Ill includes a bearing plate ll secured to the upper face I2 of the walking beam and having a. sleeve portion l3 pivotally supporting a shaft l4 transversely of the beam. The ends l5 of the shaft project from the sleeve swingingly suspending hanger arms l6 and ll with their lower ends depending below the bottom of the beam and provided with openings i8 and I9 having upwardly facing V-shaped seats 20. Extending through the openings and mounted in the V-shaped seats is a cross bar 2! preferably of triangular cross-section to provide a knife edge 22 to engage in the seats. The ends of the bar project from the outer faces of the hanger arms and have openings 23 to pass the upper ends of reins 24 and 25 that are secured by nuts 26 and 21 threaded on the reins and engaging the fiat upper face of the cross bar, as best shown in Fig. 4. The lower ends of the reins are interconnected by a cross bar 28 to which the polish rod 9 is connected by a conventional polish rod clamp 29.

The construction thus far described, with the exception of the knife edge mounting of the cross bar 2 l is conventional to a standard pumping rig and effects reciprocation of the rods upon actuation of the walking beam by the usual crank and pitman connection (not shown).

Theforward end I of the walking beam swings about an arc with the axis 6 as a center so that as the beam moves above its horizontal position the axis of the shaft It moves ofi center relatively to the central line of the well, consequently the beam does not impart a direct lift on the rods so that there is a tendency for the polish rod to bend during actuation of the beam. This bending action on the beam is not only destructive to the stuffing box 38 at the top of the tubing but the constant bending tends to crystallize the rods causing failure and breakage thereof, particularly if the beam is operating at substantially high speed and with a long stroke. As above pointed out, it is the purpose of the present invention to overcome this difiiculty and to maintain a straight lift on the rods so as to obviate any bending and buckling tendency of the polish rod, as now to be described.

Bolted to the under side of the walking beam at a point offset from the front face of a headache p'ost 3| are spaced bearing brackets 32 and 33 having bearing openings 36 and for pivotally mounting a transverse shaft 36. Fixed to the shaft 35 at a point between the spaced bearing brackets, is a control lever 31 comprising a rod 38 having a T-shaped head 39 at its upper end keyed on the shaft 36 by a spline 4B. The lower end of the control lever is pivotally connected with a cross pin ll of a guide head 32.

The guide head is preferably of cylindrical shape and is slidably mount-ed in a tubular guide post 43 that may be fixed to the side of the headache post 31. The guide 43 is of sufficient diameter to provide for free movement of the rod 38 during actuation of the walking beam, however, it provides a preferably close fit for the guide head so that the lower end of the rod is retained for reciprocatory movement in a perpendicular direction thereby imparting a slight rocking motion to the shaft 36 during oscillation of the beam. The guide 43 is shown as attached to the headache post by means of straps 44 and 45 extending around the upper and lower ends thereof and secured to the sides of the post by fastening devices, such as bolts, 46 extending through the terminals of the straps and through the posts as shown in Fig. 1.

Keyed to. the outer ends of the shaft 36 are the hubs 47 and 48 of control arms 49 and 50 that extend upwardly along the side faces of the beam in substantially parallel alignment with the extended axis of the control rod 38. The hubs 41 and 58 have bores 5i and 52 for snugly engaging the ends of the shaft 36 and are rigidly secured thereto by means of keys 53 and 54 so that they are rigidly connected with the control rod. It is thus apparent that while the shaft 36 moves on an arc during oscillation of the walking beam, the control arms are retained in fixed relation incidental to retention of the guide head within the tubular guide 33 to form an abutment for control rods 55 and 56. The control rods 55 and 56 lie alongside the Walking beam and have their forward ends pivotally connected by means of pins 57 with ears 58 extending laterally from the lower ends of the hanger arms and their rear ends guidingly supported in seats 59 and 60 of guide yokes Bi and 62 on the upper ends of the arms 49 and 50 as best shown in Fig. 3.

The ends of the control rods engaged in the guide yokes are threaded and provided with spacing sleeves 63 and 64 having one end engaging against rounded faces 65 of the guide yokes and their opposite ends bearing against nuts 61 and 58 threaded on the rods, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The nuts 61 and 68 are adjusted on the control rods so that when the walking beam is in substantially horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, the sleeves 63 and 64 are held in abutment with the arcuate faces of the guide yokes, consequently when the beam swings upwardly from the horizontalposition as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the control rods prevent swinging movement of the hanger arms in the direction of the Samson post and thereby support the suspension points for the polish rod in the perpendicular plane of the sucker rods to provide a direct lift on the rods and to overcome any tendency of the rods to buckle, as above pointed out.

In operating a pumping apparatus assembled as described, the walking beam is oscillated in accordance with usual practice to effect reciprocation of the rods. The action of the control rods is clearly apparent by noting the dotted line positions of the respective parts in Fig. 1. Normally the hanger arms tend to swing toward the direction of the Samson post as the walking beam moves above its horizontal position, which tends to shorten the horizontal distance between the guide yokes and the ends of the hanger arms, however, since this distance is maintained constant by reason of the control rods, the lower ends of the hanger arms are prevented from swinging inwardly toward the Samson post during upward swinging movement of the beam. When the beam moves downwardly from horizontal position the weight of the rods retains the hanger in perpendicular position and the control rods simply slide through the control rod guide yokes, as shown by the lower dotted line positions of the beam in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided a straight lift hanger which is of simple and inexpensive construction but which effectively applies a straight lift on the rods and obviates tendency of buckling and bending of the rods as in conventional pumping rig construction.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a walking beam of a. pumping rig, a rod hanger swingingly suspended from the beam, fixed guide means, control means pivotally suspended from the beam and having reciprocable movement in said guide means during rocking movement of the beam, and means connecting the rod hanger with the control means.

2. In combination with a walking beam of a pumping rig, a rod hanger swingingly suspended from the beam, a control lever pivotally suspended from the beam, guide means for retaining the lower end of the control lever for reciprocatory movement in a fixed path during actuation of the beam, and a control rod pivotally connected with the hanger and having lost motion connection with the control lever for controlling relative swinging movement of the hanger on the beam.

3. In combination with the walking beam of a pumping rig, a rod hanger swingingly suspended from the beam, means connecting the hanger with a polish rod of a well being pumped by the beam, a control lever pivotally supported on the beam and having a terminal end depending from said pivotal support, a guide retaining the terminal end of the control lever for perpendicular movements during reciprocation of the beam, and a control rod connected with the hanger and with the control lever for applying a substantially straight lift on the polish rod during actuation of the beam.

4. In combination with the walking beam of a pumping rig, a hanger swingingly suspended from the beam, means connecting the hanger with a polish rod of a well being pumped by the beam, a shaft supported by the beam, a control lever connected with the shaft, means for guidingly retaining the lower" end of the control lever for movement in a perpendicular direction, arms fixed to the shaft and. having guide yokes, and control rods pivotally connected with the hanger and having stop engagement with the guide yokes during movement of the beam above its horizontal position.

5. In combination with the walking beam of a pumping rig, a hanger swingingly suspended from the beam, means connecting the hanger with a polish rod of a well being pumped by the beam, a shaft supported by the beam, a control lever fixed to the shaft, means for guidingly retaining the lower end of the control lever, arms fixed to the shaft and having guide yokes, control rods pivotally connected with the hanger and slidably mounted for reciprocatory movement in the guide yokes, and stops on the control engageable with the guide yokes during movement of the beam above its horizontal position to control relative movement of the hanger on the beam.

6. In combination with the walking beam of a pumping rig, a hanger swingingly suspended from the beam, means connecting the hanger With a polish rod of a Well being pumped by the beam, a shaft supported by the beam, a control lever fixed to the shaft, a guide head on the control lever, a tubular guide for the guide head, arms fixed to the shaft and having guide yokes, control rods pivotally connected with the hanger and slidably supported in the guide yokes, and stops on the rods engageable with the guide yokes during movement of the beam above its horizontal position to control relative movement of the hanger on the beam.

'7. In combination with the walking beam of a pumping rig and its headache post, a hanger swingingly suspended from the beam, means connecting the hanger with a polish rod of a Well being pumped by the beam, a control lever pivotally suspended from thegbeam, means connected with the headache post for guidingly retaining the lower end of the control lever for fixed perpendicular movement during reciprocation of the beam, and control rods connected with the hanger and with the control lever for effecting application of a substantially straight lift on the polish rod during actuation of the beam.

8. In combination with the walking beam of a pumping rig and its headache post, a hanger swingingly suspended from the beam, means connecting the hanger with a polish rod of a well being pumped by the beam, a shaft supported transversely on the beam, a control lever fixed to the shaft, means connected with the headache post for guidingly retaining the lower end of the control lever, guide arms fixed to the shaft and having guide yokes, and control rods pivotally connected with the hanger and having limited sliding engagement with the guide yokes during movement of the beam to control relative swinging movement of the hanger.

ALBERT N. PORTER. 

